February 12, 2022 - English Premier League side Chelsea won the Club World Cup trophy on Saturday against Palmeiras, giving Mateo Kovačić the trophy for the third time in his career. 

Chelsea footballers defeated Palmeiras 2-1 (1-1) in a dramatic outcome only after extra time in the Club World Cup final. With a goal scored by Lukaku in the 55th minute and a penalty by Kai Havertz in the second half of extra time, Chelsea became world champions. Kovačić was subbed out just before the match went to extra time, in the 91st minute. 

Thomas Tuchel returned to the bench after recovering from the coronavirus, while Edouard Mendy, who became the African champion with Senegal, returned to the goal after Kep was brilliant in the semifinal. 

The Blues' stopper trio remained the same, with left-back Hudson-Odoi replacing Alonso. Instead of Jorginho, Kante started with Kovačić in the middle. Mount replaced Ziyech in the attack, while Havertz and Lukaku retained their starting positions. However, after half an hour, Mount came out for Pulišić.

Chelsea chased revenge in this tournament after they failed to win the Club World Cup in their only appearance so far in 2012. Brazilian club Corinthians won 1:0 then. All European clubs won the Cup after that year - Real Madrid four times, Bayern twice, and Barcelona and Liverpool once.

Recall, Kovačić has already won two Club World Cup titles with Real Madrid. Now, after winning the Champion League with Chelsea last season, he has taken the world title with the club he joined in 2018. Kovačić was also brilliant in the Club World Cup semifinal against Al-Hilal, completing 90 percent of his passes. The English media praised him after the match for another great performance. 

African champion Al Ahly won third place at this year's Club World Club Cup, convincingly beating the Asian champion, Saudi Al Hilal 4-0 (3-0) in the match for third place.

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February 10, 2020 - Mateo Kovačić was named the FIFA 'Man of the Match' of the Club World Cup semifinal on Wednesday between Chelsea and Al Hilal.

It didn't go as Chelsea fans would have expected, but the Premier League club topped the Asian champions Al Hilal in the World Cup semi-finals on Wednesday night. The 1:0 victory was thanks to a Romelu Lukaku goal after a blunder by the opponents. Havertz recorded the assist, reports Jutarnji List.

There were many opportunities for the London club, but also any close moments in the second half as Al Hilal went aggressively to get the equalizing goal. Instead, they failed, primarily because of brilliant defending by Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, still the highest-paid keeper of all time.

Interestingly, although Lukaku scored the only goal, and Kepa defended miraculously in the second half, FIFA chose Mateo Kovačić as the player of the match!

The Croat is currently on fire for Chelsea. Not only did he score the potential goal of the Premier League season against Liverpool in January, but he recently wore the captain's armband for the club, too. He has been so good that assistant coach Zsolt Low (as head Tuchel has COVID) called him "the great leader of Chelsea".

"I may have made some, let’s call them, unforced mistakes that I don’t normally make, but it’s good, and I’m happy. I have to point out Kepa. He is a world-class goalkeeper, blessed to have as many as three great goalkeepers at our club. As for the match, it was tough. It’s the World Cup semi-finals; we knew it would be that way. We should have scored the second goal; that would have relaxed us even more," said Low after the match.

Chelsea will play against South American champions Palmeiras on Saturday at 5 pm to fight for their first Club World Cup title in club history. When they won the Champions League in 2012, they played another Brazilian team, the Corinthians, in the World Cup final. Chelsea lost 1:0.

"We know how passionate Brazilian fans are. We are looking forward to that match, but it will be at least as demanding as this one against Al Hilal. It would be great to win another trophy. However, this is not easy to come by. You must first qualify for the European Champions League, then win it, and then pass the semifinals of the World Cup," said the Croatian national team player after FIFA presented him the player of the match award.

Thomas Tuchel's assistant, Zsolt Low, also spoke in selected words about Kovačić:

"Kova has a lot of experience. He played a handful of games like this. He is important to us on and off the field, and today he did everything. He didn’t stop running; he didn’t stop fighting and always found the best possible solutions for the team. We are thrilled that this kind of player is at our club; he is a great leader." 

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

Luka Modrić played in the starting lineup and had a nearly perfect game until he was substituted in the 105th minute for fellow Croat Mateo Kovačić.